Protective covering for safes



M 2, max w. G. ORRIS 1,843,

PROTECTIVE COVERING FOR SAFES Filed Jan. 15, 1929 'INYENTOR MAI/am GZ/Varrafl ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 2, 1932 UNITED STATES WILLIAM. G. NORRIS, or snArTnn-wnsnmeron PROTECTIVE COVERING FOR SAFE S Application filed January 15,1929. Serial No. 332,736.

This invention relates to devices for rendering safes and vaults burglar-proof, and its object is to provide protective devices additional to what has hitherto been utilized to prevent a burglar from effectually using the flame of a blow pipe, oXyo-acetylene torch thermit, or other burning devices in attacking a safe.

The invention consists in the provision of a jacket comprising flame resisting material and structure which is adapted to be applied tofa portion or all of the external surface of a sa e.

The invention further consists in utilizing between the safe and the flame resisting jacket a stratum of material which under the action of heat produces obnoxious smoke and gases 1 which will cause a burglar using a blow-pipe in his Work to desist before reaching the safe.

The invention further consists in the novel construction, adaptation and combination of devices hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings,-

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a safe of the circular chest type equipped with jacket devices embodying my invention, the jacket being partly broken away to show its construction; Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of Fig. 1 with the door in side elevation, and indicating by dotted lines a mounting for the chest as with a portable safe; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan View of a foraminated plate which may be used as an element in the construction of my improved safe jacket instead of the rod guard devices shown in Figs. 1 and 2; and Figs. 4: and 5 are detail views in transverse vertical section and plan, respectively, of another form of guard devices.

In said drawings, the reference numeral 5 represents the hollow body or chest member of-a safe, having a door 6 which is connected to the body in any known way. Said body and door may be made of manganese steel 0 other approved material.

According to the present invention, I provide an outer covering or jacket 7 for the upper peripheral and back portions of the body and also for its front at opposite sides and above an'opening 8 in which the door 6 is swung and operated.

As shown, said jacket consists of aninner layer 9 juXtaposed with the external surface of the body and an outer layer 10 located outside ,of and juxtaposed with said inner layer. The inner layer 9, which" is interposed between the layer 10 and the safe body 5, is composed of smoke and gas producing materials. Said outer layer 10 is composed of-a mass of-cr'nent concrete 11in which is embedded one or more courses of reinforcing and protective devices formed of metal or a composition ofmetalswhich will withstand extreme ly high teiiijaeratures and capable of effectually resisting the cutting and abrading'action of boringtool.- Said reinforcing and protectivedevices, as shown in F igs; l and 2, are, provided by longitudinal bars 12 and transverse bars 13 disposed in spaced apart relation.-

Instead of forming the protective devices ofspaced bars as above explained, they'may be formed as a mat '(Figs. 4 and 5) wherein the longitudinalbars 12 and the transverse bars 13 are woven together. Fig. 3 illustrates another modification of a. protective guard consisting of a foraminated plate 14.

The composite outer layer 10 will withstand the action of a torch and defy the efforts of a safe-breaker to penetrate with mechanic tools for a considerable time. The inner layer moreover, will not withstand a torch flame but is readily combustible to generate smoke and gases to prevent further operations of a safebreaker in the event of his reaching such combustible layer.

F or use as a Wall safe the safe jacketed with my improved devices is built or set into a wall structure (not shown) to constitute, in effect, a monolithic part thereof.

In Fig. 2 I indicate how a portable safe may be equipped with my protective jacket, the wheeled pedestal of the safe being indicated by dotted lines 15.

The invention and the manner of using the same will be understood from the foregoing description.

The term safe used herein is to be understood to include vaults and the like in which money and other Valuables are kept.

What I claim is,-

1. The combination with a safe, of a burglar-resistant jacket arranged to encase the side and upper portions of said safe, said jacket consisting of an outer layer of heat resisting material and an inner layer juxtaposing the exterior of the safe and composed of smoke and gas producing material, said inner layer being exposed to the atmosphere adjacent the door and bottom portions of the safe.

2. The combination with a safe, of a burglar-resistant jacket arranged to encase the sides and top of the safe, said jacket consisting of an outer layer of heat resisting material and an inner layer comprising a smoke and gas producing material arranged in juxtaposed disposition to the exterior of the safe in a manner to produce said smoke and gas upon said safe being subjected to heat.

3. The combination with a safe, of a burglar-resistant jacket arranged about the same, said jacket consisting of an outer layer of a material adapted to resist the efforts of a burglar to penetrate the same, and an inner layer comprising a gas producing material arranged in juxtaposed disposition to the exterior of the safe in a manner to produce 1slaid gas upon the safe being subjected to eat.

4. The combination with a safe, of a burglar-resistant jacket arranged about the same, said jacket consisting of an outer layer ofa material adapted to resist the efforts of a burglar to penetrate the same, and an inner layer comprising a smoke producing material arranged in juxtaposed disposition to the exterior of the safe in a manner to produce said smoke upon the safe being subjected to heat.

Signed at Seattle, Washington, this 31st day of December, 1928.

WILLIAM G. NORRIS. 

